News from Visitation Province
Come and See – Congrégation de Notre-Dame
May 31 – June 2, 2024
We have asked you to pray and to ponder whom you might invite to our CND Vocation Committee Come and See. The time has arrived, and we are pleased to welcome 8 women to the Mother House this weekend.
Because we believe in the community dimension of this initiative and we know the power of your prayer, we invite you to hold these women in your prayer these days.
And we are grateful to the Sisters who agreed to join us for various sessions of the time we have – Debbie, Patricia, Danielle, Monique. Committee members participating include Josephine, Violaine, Yvette, Joyce and Sue. Added to the gratitude list are the sisters at the Mother House whom welcome us.
Did you hear? We will be at Bon Secours Saturday afternoon and Bishop Faubert will join us for mass at 4:30. Sisters and Associates in the area are invited to join us for mass and the renewal of our vows and commitments.
Becky, Emilie, Joan, Josephine, Joyce, Lorraine, Sue, Violaine, Yvette
The CND Vocation Committee
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
The JPIC Committee met by Zoom on Tuesday, May 28. A lot has been happening among us and around us since we met in Montreal in March. We took some time to reconnect and review current and proposed projects.
Our launch into becoming a Blue Community has been properly registered, and we will be inviting groups and individuals to share efforts, occasions or choices made to honor our commitment.
We continue to offer opportunities to promote learning, understanding and reconciliation in journeying with our indigenous people. Participants have been enthusiastic about our programs so far. We have only two more lessons in the current program we are following, Home on Native Land. The resource persons in these sessions are excellent and our faithful companion, Elder Bob from Toronto, enters into our discussions.
Our next JPIC meeting will be in September. Happy summertime to all. Let’s enjoy Mother Earth in her summer fun, rest, and new visitations!
Eleanor McCloskey, CND for JPIC Committee
CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM May Gathering with Sisters and Associates in PEI
The Congregational Leadership Team, 3 CND sisters, and 14 CND associates from North Rustico & Charlottetown along with Noëlla Shorgan (a Montreal associate) all enjoyed an afternoon of greeting, sharing and bonding. The CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM presentation video led into a focus on crossroads: “What has been your experience of crossroads in your Life? What decisions have you had to make in difficult times? We shared grace-filled moments, food, laughter, and bonding. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM for this wonderful opportunity to gather in friendship and love. Our prayers go with you as you continue in the spirit of St. Marguerite.
Phyllis Gallant, CND
CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM Visits Health Care Centre in Sydney
On May 24th, we had the pleasure of hosting the CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM at the CND Health Care Center. We gathered for introductions by the team and sisters. Sr Claire Beaton gave a special welcome in Gaelic, which we all appreciated. The sisters presented the team with stained glass sun catchers of Cape Breton. Together we shared in a blessing led by Sr. Catherine Walker. The CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM then met with each sister. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. Thanks for a great visit.
Arlene Rutledge Coordinator
Day Two of the CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM Visit to Cape Breton
This day the sisters of the Sydney area were blessed with the visit of our Congregational Leadership Team. The day began, after numerous technical difficulties were met, with greetings and welcome to our four guests. An inspiring video presentation traced the CND journey from the humble beginnings of Marguerite in Troyes through the journey of the Congregation to the present day. The song, “The Journey,” was a beautiful commentary on the preceding video. This was followed by rich sharing by the sisters assembled
To continue this day the team and some local sisters were given a tour of Membertou, the First Nations Community in our area. We were welcomed with a traditional drum song by our guide. We each received a small leather pouch of sweet grass as a souvenir. The tour began with a visit to the site of the Kings Road Reservation, from which their community had been forcibly removed in 1926. As we approached the monument to that event,
I noticed that Sister Ercilia stopped and touched the earth to offer a blessing for the land, considering it as sacred. At the conclusion of this very informative tour of Membertou and the Heritage Park, Ercilia once again stopped and blessed the Indigenous bus driver and our tour guide.
The day concluded with dinner and a social with the sisters of the Parkland community, during which each team member gave us a summary of the study/plans to date of the imminent relocation of the Mother House. The next day the team attended the Sunday liturgy at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish and in the afternoon met with the Associates of the area and including two ladies who came from Antigonish for the occasion.
Simone Abbass, CND
Associates Gather with CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM in Sydney
CND Associates from Cape Breton and Antigonish gathered on May 26 at Holy Redeemer Convent in Sydney to meet the Congregational Leadership Team. What a pleasurable afternoon of connecting with our CND Sisters. There was deep sharing and laughter. In true unity a prayer circle with hand holding closed the session while praying the “Hail Mary.”
Sincere thanks to Sister Agnes Campbell for organizing this event.
Dianne MacAskill, CND Associate Coordinator